Perfection

What is perfection?

Is it a number, a rating, a feeling?

Is it a place, an event, a trip?

Maybe it's a person?

Is it love, a relationship or marriage?

Is it a quality, trait or feature of excellence?

Perhaps, it's a state of being?

Is it a body or parts of a body?

Does it mean being perfect?

Does it mean being skinny?

Is it a destination?

Is it the end?

Is it worth striving for?
Is it an accomplishment?

If two people have different ideas of perfect, is there such a thing?

I am a mom and a wife.

I make plenty of mistakes.

Say and do the wrong things at the wrong time.
I have many flaws.

I do my best but always try for better.

I will never have the best body but I'll work to be healthy.

I am defined by my values, my goals, my aspirations, not by the way I look.

I am human.

I'm here to try to be a positive model of a what a woman should be for my daughter.
To teach her right from wrong.
To teach her that being a certain shape, size, look, a certain whatever, doesn't matter.
It's what is inside that counts.
It's her character that will get her further in life.
That having a sense of humor is a better quality than having a pretty face.
That it's not okay to imitate or duplicate, but to be original.
To cherish individuality instead falling into the group.
To not drink the kool-aid.
That every person is beautiful and there is no such thing as being perfect.

I am not perfect.

I am me. 

Being the best that I can be.

Check Out My Hardware

Yesterday, I ran the Run for Red benefitting the Gateway Area American Red Cross.  Not only was I excited to run my first 5K of the year but knowing it was going for a great cause made it that much better. 

The race had 130 participants registered and 70 volunteers.  They were able to raise $4300 to support the American Red Cross as well as save 27 lives as a result of the blood drive held that day. 

First off, my experience with competitive races is pretty non-existant.  I ran a 4 mile race a few years ago and the race packet included a bib and cotton shirt and nothing else.  At the end of the race, the food and drinks were pretty sparse so I was completely amazed at everything this 5K had to offer.

I picked up my race packet on Friday night.  I received a reusable bag with a very nice run long-sleeved race shirt (had the feel of Under Armor but not probably as warm or as nice), some information sheets including the race route, a gift-card which by the way isn't a true gift card (deceiving!) and my race bib. 

Race day it was around 37-39 degrees (or so said my car thermometer).  The wind was okay - not as bad as it had been around here last weekend and throughout the week - but there was still a bit of a breeze. 

As far as the course went, we basically ran through a residential neighborhood twice.  One small loop for about 1.25 miles (my guess) and a bigger loop for the rest. 

My goal was to run under 25 minutes.  Based on the times I had been running during "training", I thought this was highly attainable.  The only split I heard was 7:38 at mile one. 

Two thumbs up for not winning!

I ending up making my goal with 23 seconds to spare.  I came across the finish at 24:37.9 which was a 7:57/mile pace.  I was the 33rd person across the finish line, the 9th woman and placed 4th overall in my age division (20-29).  I even came home some hardware - a bronze medal.  OH YEAH!

At the finish line there was loads of foods (fruit, granola bars, pretzels, doughnuts, bagels, etc), water, and even an energy drink sample.  They also gave away lined bags which were pretty fancy.   I grabbed what I could, got my medal and we headed over to Pizza Slut so I could feed my face with pizza and Mountain Dew.  I don't know, I heard that's what your supposed to do post race - load up on carbs and fat after you spent 25 hard minutes working breakfast off.

Overall, I was impressed with everything.

I signed up for a 5 mile run on Thanksgiving morning.  I'm hoping for great weather and 8 minute miles. 

Moral of this story is that you can have a baby and 5 months later be race ready.  I'm proof so if I can do it so can you!  Now go lace up those sneakers and run.

The cutest way to show off the hardware.

I got this really brilliant idea that I would work off my Pizza Slut by doing No Trouble Zones last night. I know, over achiever.  Today I feel like I rode a horse. Not smart, not smart.

Shrimp Casserole

By now, you can tell that I am a lover of casseroles.  Anything you can throw in a pan, put in the oven and call it dinner, works for me.

Nothing makes me happier than using shrimp in a recipe.  I absolutely love shrimp...and casseroles.  The number of casseroles or recipes for that matter, that contain seafood are lacking.  Maybe I'm not looking for them or the ones that I do find, don't seem appeasing to the taste buds.  When I found this recipe, it looked too good to pass up. 

It made so much in leftovers that I had something everyday for lunch the following week.  Let me tell you it got better with every passing day.  For those of you who do not enjoy seafood, I'm sure chicken would make a good substitute.

Shrimpy Casserole

Source: pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. shrimp, cleaned, peeled, & deveined
• 16 oz. jar of salsa
• 9 oz. angel hair pasta
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 1/2 cup half & half
• 2 eggs
• 1 to 1 1/2 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (or Colby Jack mixture).

Directions:

1. Cook pasta and drain.
2. In seperate bowl combine eggs, half & half, yogurt, feta cheese, 1/2 cup Mont. Jack cheese, parsley, basil and oregano.  Mix until well blended.  Set aside.
3. Start layering:  cover the bottom of the pan with pasta (about 1/2), add salsa layer, put half the shrimp over the salsa and top with moneterrey jack cheese.  Then add rest of pasta and the remainder of shrimp. 
4. Cover this with the egg mixture. 
5. Add a final layer of Monterrey Jack cheese.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. 
7. Enjoy!

***Note:  The original recipe called for 1/3 c. fresh parsely.  I never have fresh any spice/herb around, so I guesstimated and came up with about 1/8 cup or 2 tablespoons.  Of course, you can add to taste.  I also didn't have any half and half on hand, so I substituted melted butter mixed with whole milk (4 - 1/2 tsp plus enough whole milk to make 1 cup...of course, I had to do this 1.5 times to get to 1 1/2 C. as the recipe calls for.  I actually think I did 4 tbsp instead of 4 - 1/2 tsp...oops!).  I also didn't have Swiss cheese on hand so I just added more Monterrey Jack cheese and I used shredded cheese not grated.  Use what you have.


Also, if you like spice, you can always add a little red pepper to taste.